US mountaineering and outdoor clothing and gear brand Mountain Hardwear Inc. has restructured its philanthropic programme and has launched a new project called Mountain Hardwear Gives Back. The new programme has five arms designated to reflect the company’s priorities, which are Environmental Partners; Outdoor Community Partners; Recreation Partners; Industry Partners; and Employee Partners.

Under the programme, Mountain Hardwear offers grants to organisations that work towards protecting the environment and open spaces.

Protecting the wild spaces of our earth and helping more individuals to get out recreating and playing in those spaces have been priorities of the management and employees of Mountain Hardwear since the company started 12 years ago,” said Paige Boucher, spokesperson for the new programme and an original employee of the company. For 2006 we have restructured the programme so that it has a more directed focus, clearer guidelines and a board of directors to oversee it,” Ms Boucher continued.